Driver is cleared over OAP Jean's crash death

Martin Muir, 27, was found not guilty of causing 84-year-old Jean Forsyth's death by dangerous driving at Paisley Sheriff Court.

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A young dad walked free from court yesterday after he was cleared of causing a pensioner’s death by careless driving.

Tragic Jean Forsyth, 84, died as a result of injuries suffered when a car she was travelling in as a passenger collided with another vehicle being driven by 27-year-old Martin Muir.

It was claimed Muir failed to take heed of the conditions as he drove his Skoda Octavia in Greenfield Road, Neilston.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how, as he rounded a bend on the single-track country road, a Citroen being driven by Mrs Forsyth’s husband Robert appeared in front of him.

Muir, of Tower Road, Johnstone, tried to take evasive action but his brakes locked and he smacked into the other car with such force that it was shunted back and landed on its side.

Mrs Forsyth, from Uplawmoor, lost her fight for life within an hour of the collision, despite efforts by paramedics and a doctor to save her.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died from chest injuries.

The court heard that, although Muir had not been driving at “excessive” speed, he had failed to comply with the need to take extra care when on a country road.

Muir denied causing Mrs Forsyth’s death by driving carelessly on August 1, 2013, and failing to keep proper control of the vehicle, resulting in the wheels locking under braking and colliding with her husband’s car, damaging both vehicles and fatally injuring her.

The trial heard how skid marks at the scene ran for almost 20metres and led to the point of impact.

Jurors were shown photographs taken at the crash scene, between Sergeantlaw Road and Fereneze Road.

Accident investigators concluded the front and front nearside of the Skoda had collided at an angle with the oncoming Citroen, striking it as it was positioned on the carriageway parallel to the grass verge.

It’s driver-side front wing had been “crushed back” at the point it was hit.

Mr Forsyth, a 94-year-old retired architect, told the court how a pleasant day out with his wife had ended in devastating consequences.

He said his wife had been secretary of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute magazine and they were doing the rounds as she visited farms to deliver the latest issue.

As they “meandered” along the single-track road, he was suddenly aware of the other vehicle appearing in front of him from a blind bend.

“I was driving at between 20 to 25 miles an hour,” he said. “It’s not a road you can speed on.

“The car came towards me – it must have been going quite fast – and knocked my car completely on to its side.”

Giving his account, Muir claimed he had been driving at between 25 and 30mph prior to the crash, with his daughter and stepdaughter in the back.

Muir, who works as a plater with Babcock Marine at Rosyth Dockyard, said: “I came around the corner and the car was in the middle of the road.

“I braked, I had seconds to react, and collided with the car.

“The Citroen was just there in the middle of the road. There was a massive panic and I chose to head for the field, rather than the left, as there was a big stone wall and I didn’t think that was the best option.

“I had the girls in the back and I didn’t want to place them in danger.”

After the jury returned a majority not guilty verdict, Sheriff Seith Ireland told Muir he was free to leave the court.